The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-02-05
FROST T-BITTEN.
Frost bitten, eh ?"

never mind that's what roses are
Il xpected to do"
Is enough he spoke thus lightly to
|hIa sister. John Rossitter walked to
ward the barnyard with cIenched
hxuds and lips rirmly set. He did
Inotclmb to the NOW with his acru7
Itomed speed the hay came tumh-
ling down and he after it, with but
little of his boyish playfulneSs.
| The barn doors were closed, the
Iieid bars put up, the lane gate fas-
lened, and John was on his way to
liis room, when he looked in al
slase'e open door and surprised her
! " sae Vet Of hugrieuiy replacing her
Bible on the table. He saw at IA
glance just how she had bped occu.
pied since he left her on the porcn
nearly half an hour before, and his
heart sveIled within him.
"ROse I'll tell you what !" he.be-
gan, exdtedly. LAS quick as you
say the word I'll settle with Fred
Evarts something of hurry. I'I
let him know -"
"Oh, no John not for the world I!
Fred hasn't done anything to injure
me !"
II say he has !" gr0wled John.
"Indeed, John, he hasn', -
But her.red lips quiverpd, and T.,
seeing this, John gathered fresh an
ger.
Rose, ifyou'll say right up and
down that Fred EvartS never smade
love to yol, I'll drop the matter.
AT least ="
He was Interrupted by little jamie
a wee fodder, coming step by step
up the stats, and called them to
"tum to tulper." Glad to end the
conversation, Rose, catching the
little one in her arms, ran down the
stairs. And when, ten minutes later,
John joined the family at tea, farmer
r p-stter looked up in some surprise
Seems to me you're very much
dressed this evening, John"
Ppm going out" explained John.
MAY taHe the ponies, sir ?"
"You may; but don't keep them
out late"
"No; I'm going only as far as the
Fords."
Fred Evarts lived at the Fords.
Rose looked up with wild apprehen-
sion in her eyes. and then down on
her untasted cuStard. Her cheek
grew pale.
"What is it Rose 2" asked her
mother. "Why don't you eat? What
is the matter, child ?"
"Matter! I-nothing ~
"Something is the matter, began
Mrs. RoSsiIter. but paused. The
tramping of feet and the murmur of
suppressed voices were heard with
out. John arose and opened the door.
"It's a surprise party, / 'spOse,"
said he, gloomily. "You may as
well run and dress, Rose"
mo-" injected Bose, whose neat
calico and dainty ruffies were fit for
a princess. "I'll receive them as /
am and then dress"
"Well said, my sweet wild Rose J"
cried Farmer Rossitter, as, with wife
and daughter, he arose to welcome
the approaching procession.
1t was fair sight to benold by the
light of the moon. The young men
bore large. heavy-laden baskets. The
girls, gayly dressed. carried light
lanterns. As they rounded from the
lane to the lawn their burdens were
deposited on the ground, and the
merry procession advanced to the
house. One by one, when the brief
greetings were over, the girls ran
directly to Roses room, and the
young men went to Johns domicile,
where extra touches were put to al
ready gay toilets and plans discussed
for the evening.
Ro>e end John. receiving each
merry couple at the door, were struck
speechless when the last pair pre-
sented themselves. They were Nell
lie Frost and Fred Evarts. For an
instant only, the brother and sister
withheld their hands, while Johns
brow grew dark and the flush deep
ened on Roses cheek. Then, re-
membering the obligations of h0spi.
taIity, they kindly, if not cordially
greeted their guests. Rose took Mel
lie to her own room. where score oi
giddy girls were chatting like IA flock
1T spring black birds, while John and
Fred joined 1.-THE fellows" up stairs.
Half an hour later found the whole
gay party in the great west barn.
Several tattered flags, festooned from
beam to beam, concealed the hay.
mows, and the lanterns, hung AT
every available DOint. brilliantly